Chapter 129: Long-lasting Battle of Wits and Courage

The room glowed faintly with lamplight. Ning Xiaoling tiptoed in, sensing faint traces of sword energy. She turned her head and saw her senior disciple brother meditating alone on the bed, sitting upright with a solemn expression, as if he hadn't noticed her arrival.

Ning Xiaoling breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, "Now that my cultivation realm is higher, Senior Disciple Brother can't even detect me."

She smiled, pressing her lips together, feeling more confident in her Taoist Concealment Art. She turned and gently closed the door, then crouched and walked to her senior disciple brother's side. She intently watched his face as he focused on his practice, thinking he resembled the banished immortals in the stories, adorned in feathered robes and starlit crowns.

She just found it a bit strange. Every room had meditation cushions for disciples, so why did Senior Disciple Brother choose to cultivate on the bed? And… the blanket was a bit messy. Senior Disciple Brother was usually very neat and tidy.

Although she found it somewhat peculiar, Ning Xiaoling didn't overthink it. She carefully sat down beside her senior disciple brother. A moment later, after Ning Changjiu finished his meditation and breath regulation, Ning Xiaoling patted his shoulder and chirped, "Senior Disciple Brother!"

Ning Changjiu stirred. He quickly opened his eyes and looked at the girl beside him in surprise, his expression startled. "Xiaoling? Why are you here? When did you arrive? You didn't even tell me."

Ning Xiaoling smiled, revealing her small, pearly white teeth. She lowered her voice and said, "Now I hardly see you all day. Can't I even come to visit you?"

Ning Changjiu said, "This doesn't comply with the sect's rules."

Ning Xiaoling scoffed softly. "Then why didn't you take my key? Isn't that clearly implying you want me to sneak in and see you?"

"…" Ning Changjiu said helplessly, "I forgot."

Ning Xiaoling didn't believe him. She said, "Last time, you said you forgot Master's hairpin, and now you say you forgot again. I think, Senior Disciple Brother, you're doing this on purpose."

Ning Changjiu sighed. "It wouldn't be good if you, Junior Disciple Sister, were discovered like this."

Ning Xiaoling crossed her arms, proudly stating, "My Taoist Concealment Art has improved to another level. Sister Yazhu definitely won't find me. As for Master… it's even more impossible for her to know."

"Mmm…" Ning Changjiu replied, "Junior Disciple Sister, you should still return the key to me later."

Ning Xiaoling clutched the key in her hand tightly, nervously asking, "Senior Disciple Brother… are you serious?"

Ning Changjiu saw her pitiful gaze and couldn't bear it. He could only say, "If Xiaoling were discovered, it would put Master in a difficult position."

Ning Xiaoling frowned at him. "Senior Disciple Brother, what's wrong with you? You don't usually address Master so formally in private."

"Do I…?"

"Yes, you do!" Ning Xiaoling looked at him strangely. "Senior Disciple Brother, what are you afraid of? With our current cultivation, we're definitely safe. Master Jiajia certainly won't find out. And even if she does, what of it? Master acts cold and fierce on the surface, but she's softer-hearted than anyone. If I apologize sincerely and beg a little, she definitely won't bear to scold me. I've never even been disciplined by her; she dotes on me!"

"…" Ning Changjiu looked at her with a sympathetic expression. "It's still better not to make things difficult for Master."

Ning Xiaoling looked at her senior disciple brother with a strange expression, leaning closer. "Senior Disciple Brother, you're so odd today. Is there something you're hiding from me?"

Ning Changjiu smiled faintly. "Is there anything I could possibly hide from Xiaoling?"

Ning Xiaoling hummed softly, leaning back slightly, but kept her eyes fixed on him. She said indignantly, "Senior Disciple Brother definitely has a secret."

Ning Changjiu said, "I just hope Xiaoling can cultivate in peace."

Ning Xiaoling pouted. "But Xiaoling has already reached the Immortal Transcendence Realm! If I cultivate further, I'll be like Martial Uncle Yazhu. A bit more, and I'll be on par with Master. A bit more… hmm, if my realm surpasses Master's, that would be so bad, wouldn't it? I'd better be a bit lazier."

"Ah, so Xiaoling, what are you here for? To show off to your Senior Disciple Brother, who's only in the Profound Entry Realm?" Ning Changjiu sighed.

Ning Xiaoling said, "I came to talk with you, Senior Disciple Brother."

Ning Changjiu said, "Can't you just chat more with your other senior and junior disciples during the day to relieve boredom?"

Ning Xiaoling shook her head. "They keep swarming around me, chattering away, asking about Linhe City until I'm parched, I can't even get a drink of water. Especially that Junior Martial Sister Lerou… sigh."

Ning Changjiu then remembered the young girl who had often tried to prank him a month ago, only for it to backfire. He said, "All the disciples on the peak are good teachers and helpful friends. Junior Disciple Sister, you should look more at their strengths. For example, Lerou possesses an indomitable spirit."

Ning Xiaoling waved her hand in front of him. "Senior Disciple Brother, have you gone astray in your cultivation, or do you just not like your Junior Disciple Sister anymore…"

Ning Changjiu habitually rubbed her head, smiling faintly. "How could that be?"

"That's good then." Ning Xiaoling smiled. "So, can I come and play with you every day from now on?"

Ning Changjiu said, "If Junior Disciple Sister acts so brazenly, and Master really finds out…"

Ning Xiaoling interrupted, "Then let her come and play with us! Anyway, we're all so familiar with each other, it doesn't matter."

Ning Changjiu took a slight breath, looking at the innocent face of the young girl casually sitting on the edge of the bed, pressing against his thigh. His eyes suddenly filled with sympathy. He said softly, "What nonsense are you talking about, little girl?"

Ning Xiaoling seemed to understand something all at once, sniffing. "Oh, I get it now. Senior Disciple Brother only likes Sister Xiang'er, right? You have a fiancée now, so you don't want your Junior Disciple Sister anymore."

Ning Changjiu said, "What nonsense are you spouting? How could I possibly like that brat?"

Ning Xiaoling sneered. "Still pretending, Senior Disciple Brother? With Sister Xiang'er, you never hit back or talk back, and you're always so cautious around her, as if you're afraid of making her unhappy. It's totally different with me. How long has it been since I arrived, and how many times have you secretly tried to send me away?"

Ning Changjiu sighed. "Mainly because I can't beat her."

Ning Xiaoling rested her face in her hands and said, "See? Senior Disciple Brother is completely useless. All he can do is bully his Junior Disciple Sister. Oh, poor Junior Disciple Sister…" As she spoke, Ning Xiaoling flopped backward and rolled directly onto Ning Changjiu's bed.

Ning Changjiu's heart jolted. He immediately leaned over her, blocking Ning Xiaoling's line of sight with his upper body.

This action made Ning Xiaoling freeze as well. She hugged her arms, nervously asking, "Senior Disciple Brother, what are you doing?"

Ning Changjiu had a hard time explaining himself. He feigned gentleness and said, "Junior Disciple Sister is right. I haven't taken good enough care of you lately. Although what happened in Linhe City was unavoidable, it still put you in danger. These things have been weighing on my mind, and I feel very guilty."

Listening to Ning Changjiu's gentle words, Ning Xiaoling, who was always easily swayed by both gentleness and firmness, looked at him with wide, glistening eyes. She said, "It's fine. You and Sister Xiang'er sacrificed so much back then; of course, Xiaoling had to do her part too… Senior Disciple Brother, don't blame yourself."

Ning Changjiu gently brushed the hair from her forehead. "It's truly good that Junior Disciple Sister thinks this way."

As he spoke, he held her shoulders, trying to pull her up from the bed, but Ning Xiaoling clung to it, refusing to get up. Her nostrils flared slightly as she whispered, "Senior Disciple Brother, why is there a faint scent here? This scent is a bit familiar…"

Ning Changjiu immediately interrupted her. "It's probably the scent of flowers from my robes. It's late winter, early spring, and many snow cherry blossoms are blooming on Sky Cavern Peak. I went to admire them today."

"Oh…" Ning Xiaoling said disappointedly, "Senior Disciple Brother went to admire flowers without inviting me."

Ning Changjiu smiled faintly. "Tomorrow, I'll go with Xiaoling… Now, please get off my bed."

Ning Xiaoling clutched the soft bedsheet, rolling her body. "Senior Disciple Brother, with you so close to me, how can I get up?"

Ning Changjiu forced a smile. He gently pressed Ning Xiaoling's shoulders. "Stop fooling around. I'll help Junior Disciple Sister up. Be obedient."

Ning Xiaoling said unhappily, "Sister Xiang'er occupied your room for a month, and you didn't say a word? I just want to lie down for a bit, and Senior Disciple Brother won't let me. Hmph, Senior Disciple Brother really does bully the weak and fear the strong!"

Regarding Ning Xiaoling's assessment, he dared not refute anything at this moment. He echoed, "Indeed, Senior Disciple Brother was wrong. Xiaoling, please get up first. I'm a bit tired and want to go to bed early. How about I spend more time with you tomorrow?"

Finally, after some pulling and tugging, Ning Changjiu managed to pull her off the bed. He silently breathed a sigh of relief. "Junior Disciple Sister, please don't be so willful in the future, okay?"

Ning Xiaoling didn't think she was willful at all. She said angrily, "Just now, you kindly persuaded me and agreed to everything, but now that I'm up, you're lecturing me again. Hmph, Senior Disciple Brother is so mean!"

Ning Changjiu knew he had misspoken and wanted to say something to make amends. But without a word, Ning Xiaoling flopped back down onto the bed, her head hitting the pillow with a thud.

Ning Changjiu felt a bad premonition and prepared to lean over again to block her view. But after the brief daze from hitting her head on the pillow, Ning Xiaoling's gaze was immediately drawn to something. She widened her eyes, looking forward: at the top of the bed frame, there was a dark silhouette!

"Ah!" Ning Xiaoling shrieked.

Ning Changjiu tried to cover her mouth, but it was too late.

Only then did Ning Xiaoling understand why her senior disciple brother had been so abnormal today. Before she could even make out who the cloaked figure was, her mind raced, and she quickly deduced the "truth," exclaiming, "Senior Disciple Brother, you actually… visited a prostitute!"

Ning Changjiu clapped a hand over her mouth. "Don't shout nonsense! What 'prostitute'? This is…"

Before Ning Changjiu could finish speaking, a voice suddenly came from outside the door:

"What's all the noise about? Don't shout and yell at night!"

It was Yazhu's scolding voice.

After scolding them, Martial Uncle Yazhu still seemed worried. She took out a spare key and began fumbling to unlock the door.

Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling exchanged glances, seeing panic in each other's eyes.

The door quickly opened.

Yazhu walked in from outside the door and saw Ning Changjiu sitting at the desk, looking at the moon in the sky and softly humming a tune.

He stopped humming only after seeing Yazhu, and said, somewhat surprised, "Martial Uncle Yazhu, why are you here? Was my singing just now too loud…"

Yazhu looked around, her gaze finally settling on Ning Changjiu. She wondered, "Could the female voice I just heard have been him singing opera?"

Yazhu frowned. "Singing at night? What kind of song?"

Ning Changjiu cleared his throat. "Previously, in Linhe City, I encountered a singing girl. Before her death, she sang a song whose name I don't know, but her voice was mournful and touching, lingering in my heart for a long time. Tonight, seeing the clear night sky and feeling the gentle breeze, I suddenly remembered it. I couldn't help but recall the tragic sight of that singing girl falling from the building under the moonlight. Overwhelmed by sorrow, I couldn't resist humming a tune—a small memorial to that poor woman."

Ning Changjiu smoothly delivered this explanation, looking at Yazhu earnestly, his eyes holding a hint of desolation, three parts indifference, and six parts distant longing. Ning Changjiu was already handsome by nature, and with such a gaze, even Yazhu, being a woman, couldn't help but soften considerably.

She sighed softly. "What kind of song could make you so nostalgic?"

Ning Changjiu cleared his throat and, bracing himself, began to sing. His voice truly had a delicate, feminine softness, and in its trembling notes, seemed to hold a myriad of charms:

"Winter winds blow, drinking on a velvet boat, embracing half a boat of ice and snow.Twilight like water washes away the rouge.Dreams of an old country in bygone years, with whom can these deep regrets be shared…Evening winds blow crimson into the flower pond, meeting hands on a lotus boat.Skirts flutter as wine is poured, hairpins adorn the head.Youthful beauty, an empty dream, solitary on the isle of fallen blossoms."

The young man's voice was drawn out delicately, his body swaying and dancing with the melody in the night, seemingly ethereal yet real, like a graceful young woman twirling her sleeves in a pavilion. His singing was sorrowful and poignant, carrying both the elegance of a nobleman and the desolation of faded grandeur.

As Yazhu listened, she couldn't help but recall some past events, feeling a wave of sorrow. Believing Ning Changjiu's words, she said, "She must have been a pitiful woman… I always thought your disposition was somewhat aloof, I never imagined you possessed such delicate sensibilities."

Ning Changjiu didn't know that the courtesan, forgotten by the whole world, had sung this very song as she walked into the light in her final moments.

Ning Changjiu nodded. "I am truly sorry for disturbing you, Martial Uncle. I will be quieter from now on."

Yazhu looked around again, and after confirming there was no one else, she nodded. "Hm, you are only allowed to stay here by the Peak Master's grace. If this happens again, I will have to report it to the Peak Master."

Ning Changjiu said, "Yes, if Master punishes me then, I will accept it completely."

Seeing his proper attitude, Yazhu did not press him further. She scanned the room once more, then finally walked out the door.

As the door closed, Ning Changjiu slumped back into his chair, his sleeves hanging loosely, his expression weary as if he had just endured several fierce battles.

At the top of the bed frame, Lu Jiajia and Ning Xiaoling, who had been hiding, finally relaxed.

Ning Xiaoling was still shaken. She sat on the bed, nervously looking at the woman in the black robe before her, whispering, "Ma… Master, how… how is it you? How are you in Senior Disciple Brother's room? I…"

Lu Jiajia already had a plan in mind. She didn't intend to give Ning Xiaoling a chance to ask questions. She said, "Ning Changjiu and I were discussing something. Besides, as your Master and the Peak Master of this peak, I can go anywhere without restraint. But you, Xiaoling, why are you in your senior disciple brother's room, hmm? Have you forgotten the rules?"

"I… I…" Ning Xiaoling panicked. She clutched the corner of her skirt, rubbing it repeatedly. She whispered, "I… I had no idea Master was here."

Lu Jiajia's voice was cold and authoritative. "If I hadn't been here tonight, I might never have known what Xiaoling says about me behind my back."

Ning Xiaoling was so scared she forgot what she had just said, and kept admitting fault, "W-w-w… Master is magnanimous and has a big heart. Please don't take Xiaoling's innocent words to heart! I… I… hmm, it's all Senior Disciple Brother's fault. He didn't tell me anything. What's so secretive about these small matters? I wouldn't tell anyone anyway…"

Ning Changjiu was startled, thinking, "I sacrificed so much, and somehow the blame still circled back to me in the end?"

He no longer wanted to explain and cast a pleading glance at Lu Jiajia.

After all, Lu Jiajia still relied on Ning Changjiu's innate spiritual hammer to forge her sword body, so she sided with him somewhat. She tapped Ning Xiaoling's head and said, "Still daring to talk back? Do you know what crime it is to speak ill of the Peak Master behind her back?"

Seeing how seriously stern Master was today, Ning Xiaoling was startled again. She shook her head and whispered, "I… I don't know."

Lu Jiajia didn't actually know either; there was no such rule in the sect's regulations.

But she still said with a cold face, "Considering this is your first offense, I'll forgive you this once. If you dare to do this again, don't blame Master for being merciless."

Ning Xiaoling nodded repeatedly.

Lu Jiajia's expression softened a little. She patted Ning Xiaoling's head and said earnestly, "Xiaoling, you are a cultivator now. Although our Sword Discourse Heavenly Sect does not advocate the path of heartlessness in sword cultivation, the path of cultivation still requires undivided focus. You cannot constantly dwell on familial affection or romantic love, otherwise your Sword Heart will be unable to achieve clarity. Xiaoling, do you understand?"

Ning Xiaoling continued to nod.

Only then did Lu Jiajia feel somewhat relieved. She instructed, "No one is allowed to tell anyone about what happened tonight. Remember that?"

Ning Xiaoling was nodding so much she felt a little dizzy. She promised, "Don't worry, Xiaoling knows her limits. From now on, this will be Xiaoling's and Master's private secret! If Master truly doesn't trust me, you can use Taoist arts to wipe Xiaoling's memory."

Lu Jiajia said, "That's a forbidden evil art on this peak; Master wouldn't know how to do that. In any case, Xiaoling must keep this a secret from now on."

"Mmm!" Ning Xiaoling nodded, but still felt doubtful. She whispered, "Um… Master, what exactly were you doing here at Senior Disciple Brother's place?"

Lu Jiajia froze. She thought to herself, "I'm still too soft-hearted. I should have just scolded Xiaoling the entire time, so she wouldn't dare open her mouth."

Ning Changjiu, who had been lying on the side, bored, smoothed things over. "Today, Master explained the theory of 'sixteen sword orifices' in the Sword Hall. I felt that Master's explanation wasn't entirely correct, so we agreed to discuss it tonight."

Ning Xiaoling remembered the content of Lu Jiajia's morning lecture and asked curiously, "Was Master's explanation incorrect?"

Lu Jiajia was equally curious, but she didn't show it. She merely looked at Ning Changjiu calmly, as if they had discussed it for a long time and reached a conclusion.

Ning Changjiu said, "There are seventy-two orifices in a person, and through every one, a sword can emerge. The notion that swords originate from sixteen orifices is merely because for ordinary cultivators, only those sixteen orifices are robust enough to allow spiritual energy to surge forth at a faster rate after passing through them. However, true masters of cultivation are never restricted by these. When all seventy-two orifices resonate simultaneously, sword energy fills the body, shining as brightly as the sun and moon, merging with the very essence of heaven and earth—such a scene truly represents the pinnacle of the sword dao."

Lu Jiajia listened, her heart filled with longing. In the past, she would never have believed such a statement. But now, her Sword Spirit Integration was becoming more and more harmonious with her body. At this moment, wielding herself as a sword, she could even bypass the orifices when unleashing sword intent and cutting down sword energy. If such an incredible feat was possible, then perhaps the simultaneous resonance of all seventy-two orifices was not mere delusion!

Ning Xiaoling, for her part, didn't doubt her senior disciple brother. She said, "Senior Disciple Brother is truly knowledgeable!"

Ning Changjiu nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Lu Jiajia. "There are still many errors in that sword scripture. In the future, I can discuss them more with Master."

This was an implication that she should come every night from now on.

Lu Jiajia's ears turned slightly red. She adjusted her collar, her expression solemn, and said, "There's no need for that. In the future, we can discuss matters in the Sword Hall. Today was an exception; it cannot happen again."

As she spoke, she looked at Ning Xiaoling, who was huddled on the bed, and extended her hand. "Xiaoling, hand over the key."

Ning Xiaoling made a long face, clutching the key tightly in her hand. She pleaded softly, "Ma—ster—"

Lu Jiajia, however, showed no signs of softening. She said, "I'll count to three. If you don't give it to me by then, you'll go to the Sword Hall for punishment tonight."

Ultimately, Ning Xiaoling obediently handed over the key in her hand.

Lu Jiajia put away the key, secretly letting out a sigh of relief. The commotion tonight had left her feeling a little dizzy.

Lu Jiajia glanced at Ning Changjiu, who was sitting by the window, and said, "Well, that's enough for tonight. Xiaoling, I'll escort you back to your room. I should also return to the Peak Master's Hall."

Ning Xiaoling, however, shook her head and carefully suggested, "Master, look, we finally got together tonight. How about… we play something fun?"